Vaporizing heat unit for internal-combustion engines



Nov. 27, 1928. 1,692,906

W. G. SCHNEE VAPORIZING HEAT UNIT FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES FiledAug. 12, 1927 J) Amen '01 W5. 5 c'hnee Patented Nov. 27, 1928 UNITEDSTATES WILLIAM G. SCHNEE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

VAPORIZING I-IEA'I UNIT FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Application filed August 12, 1927. Serial No. 212,595.

The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the fuel fed tothe cylinder of an internal combustion engine may be more thoroughlyvaporized than is done with 5 the constructions now generally employedand the operation of the engine, consequently, rendered more e With thisend in iiicient. view, the invention has for its object the provision ofelements against whichthe inflow- 1 ing charge of fuel will impinge andwhich elements will be heated so that the charge will be very completelyvaporized and will quickly explode and form complete combustion. Theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure lis a sectional view of an engine head having the invention appliedthereto;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing another embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a third embodiment of theinvention.

In the drawing, the reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of an enginehead having a spark plug 2 fitted therein in the usual manner, and it isto be understood that this engine head may be the head of a singlecylinder or may be a continuous head block extending over a plurality ofcylinders, the invention being so applied as to operate in each cylinderof the engine. trated in Figs. 1 and 2, the engine head is formed with arecess or cavity 3 in its under side and formed upon the top of thiscavity are a plurality of ribs or fins 4 which may be provided in anynumber and which, as shown clearly in Fig. 2, are preferably U-shaped inbottom plan, the ribs being disposed in parallel relation andapproximately coextensive with the recess 3. The bends of the ribs maybe connected by a bridge 5 thereby increasing the surface against whichthe charge may impinge and also increasing the heating surface whichwill act upon the charge. The

spark plug 2, it will be noted, is disposed between the ends of thestraight side portions of the inner rib and the spark will not only actupon the charge but will also play upon the sides of the adjacent ribsor fins so as to heat the same.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the heating fins or ribs are cast integral with thehead of the engine.

In Fig. 3, however, I have illustrated a heater element which is formedas a separate device and is provided at the curved end 6 with a In theconstruction illuslug 7 having an opening 8 therethrough through which asecuring bolt or screw may be inserted into the head of the engine tosecure the device in place. The ends of the straight sides of the ribsare connected by an integral bridging rib 9 at the center of which anopening 10 is provided through which a suitable fastening device may beinserted into the engine head.

Both the previously described forms of the invention are castings butthe device of the invention may be otherwise produced, and in Fig. 4 Ihave shown a heater formed of sheet metal. In this form of theinvention, a suitably shaped blank is treated in a bending machine so asto produce a base plate 11 with its edge portions and intermediateportions struck up and doubled on themselves, as shown at 12, to produceribs projecting from the base plate at a right angle thereto. An opening13 is formed through the base plate to accommodate the spark plug, andopenings 14; are formed therethrough at proper points to receivefastening devices which may be inserted into the engine head to securethe device in place.

It will be noted that in all forms of the device, there is provided aplurality of fins or ribs against which the incoming charge of fuelimpinges, and these several ribs or fins quickly become highly heated aseach successive explosion takes place so that the combustion of thecharge is complete and the efliciency of the engine is enhanced. Thecharge which enters the cylinder in the form of a spray is distributedover the hot fins or ribs and is completed vaporized, this actioncontinuing through the compression stroke and up to the point of firing.The charge is instantaneously vaporized and converted into a highlyvolatile gas which is quickly ignited by the spark so that the entirecharge of fuel is consumed giving relatively greater power to the motorand producing a more quietly running motor than has been heretoforeattained while a motor equipped with the present invention willinstantly respond to an increase of the gas supply. The use of thepresent invention eliminates fouling of the spark plugs from oil passingaround the piston rings as such oil is sprayed up around the sides ofthe pistons on striking the heating ribs or fins and is consumed beforeit reaches the plug.

It will be noted that the spark plug is located nearer the open end ofthe rib or fin structure than the closed or bridging end thereof, and itWill be understood by those skilled in the art that the iniiowing chargeis received at the open end of the unit to sweep across the spark plug.The flow is in the direction of the length of the ribs toward the closedend of the unit Which furnishes a large heating and vaporizing surface.

While I have shown the vaporizing or heating ribs as disposed Within arecess in the engine head, it must be understood that the invention isnot restricted to such specific arrangement but the ribs may be used inany engine and may be located or ar anged in such manner as is bestsuited to the particular engine in which they are placed. In some typesof engines, such as valve in head design, it may be necessary for theribs to extend down into the cylinder Which forms the combustionchamber. It is also to be understood that While the ribs are preferablyof metal, they may be of any material which may prove suitable for thepurpose.

By the use of my invention, the fuel. is

heated and vaporized in the combustion chanr her and therein convertedinto a volatile gas, so that the full benefit of the charge is obtained.

Having thus described the invention, claim:

A vaporizing heat unit for internal com- In testimony whereof I afiix mysignature.

WILLIAM G. SCI-INEE. 1,. 8.]

